A Queensland Corruption Watchdog investigation recommends greater checks and balances should be taken before the agency files a claim to avoid unfair consequences of the investigation.
An investigation into the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) outlined 32 recommendations submitted to state governments on Tuesday. This included a new corruption strategy and a call for funding for the prevention department.
The CCC also reduced its reliance on seconded police by hiring more skilled private investigators, adopting a more comprehensive approach to combating corruption, and seeking legal advice from the Attorney General’s Office before filing charges. We also suggest reducing it.
The investigation follows former Supreme Court Justices Alan Wilson QC and Tony, who are best known for leading the groundbreaking 1989 investigation that uncovered systemic corruption in Queensland 35 years ago. Led by Fitzgerald.
It follows allegations that the CCC failed to act independently and impartially during a botched 2019 Queensland City Council probe into Logan.
The former mayor and seven city council members were indicted on fraud charges, and the city council was removed from office before all charges were dropped almost two years later.
The flaws in the Logan City Council case indicated a degree of “groupthink” or “collective culture” among police seconded to the CCC, the report found.
“This will require the CCC to consider the skills needed when and for what purpose, and work with the QPS to ensure that the composition of the group reflects those needs,” it said. rice field.
“The CCC lacks internal and external checks and balances to adequately address these risks,” it said.
“While seconded officers continue to be a valuable asset in the CCC’s work, we have concluded that their skills and experience do not fully meet the CCC’s corruption investigation requirements.”
Prime Minister Anastasia Parašchuk told reporters on Tuesday that she welcomed the report and said there was nothing in it that the government could not implement.
“Nobody ever wants to see what happened to that particular councilor again,” she said.
“It’s important that our state’s democratic institutions are respected, protected, and improved wherever possible,” she said in a press release.
“Thanks to this Commission of Inquiry, we will have a better anti-corruption agency in the future.”
AAP contributed to this article.
follow
Nina Nguyen is a reporter based in Sydney. She covers Australian news with a focus on social, cultural and identity issues. She is fluent in Vietnamese. Please contact her at [email protected]